Pipe-tongs



R. D. HILL.

PIPE TONGS.

APPucATloN FILED 1m29. |921.

1,382,832. Patented June 28, 1921.

BY if w., TTORNEY UNITED STATES E RICHARD D. 1111.1.,'orroRTWoRrHg or nLEo'rRA,

- PEPE-Tones.

To'all 'whom mail/concern: v ir` i,

Be it known that 'I Bronzini). D; HILL, ya citizen of the United Sitates, residing at Fort Worth, in the county ofTarrant and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pipe tongs and in such connection it relates more particularly to a pipe tongs for use in drilling wells by the rotary system and to the construction and arrangement of such tongs.

In the operation of drilling or boring wells by the rotary system the well machinery is used in unscrewing the section of pipe or tubing comprising the drill stem, one section being held and rotated by the machinery while the other, upper portion is held rigid by a tongs secured to what is known as the rotary post. It is frequently the case that the tongs are unequal to the strain thus put upon them and the jaws of tlie tongs will not hold on the drill stem and the tongs is sometimes hurled several feet.

It is the principal object of my invention to obviate this diiculty in providing a pipe tongs so constructed and arranged that the jaws of the tongs will be held securely and firmly and locked around and against the pipe or drill stem by means of a lever comprising part of the tongs; and to make the tongs as simple as possible and economical of manufacture.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accom anying drawin s forming part hereof, in w ichigure 1 is an elevational view of a pipe tongs embodying my invention, the handle in broken formation, and illustrating the jaws of the tongs in closed position on a piece or section of drill stem or pipe.

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal section view of the tongs showing the jaws of the tongs in open positions, and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1, taken on line 3 3 thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes one of the jaws of the tongs, having its outer periphery of circular formation withv the forward end curved inwardly and forming a recess 2 to partly embrace a pipe joint or drill stem 3. The opposite or inner end of the jaw 1 is tapered inwardly and pivoted at 4 to a pin 5 and to an specification 'f Leftersrafen't.

Application nieu' January 29,1921.

Serial No. '440,913.- L-Shaped lever 6. `.The is of the jaw1 1 and lever 9-9 to a handle 10.

The other jaw of the 'tongs is shown at 11 and is provided with the teeth 12. This jaw spans the space between the cheek pieces 8 8, being traversed by pins 13-13 set in the cheek pieces. A locking means is provided for the L-shaped lever 6 which consists of a bridge 14 spanning the space between the cheek pieces 8-8 and secured thereto by pins 15-15. The L-shaped lever 6 has a finger 16 adapted to bear against a small projection 17 in the bridge 14. Springs 18 and 19 have one end embedded in the handle 10, the lon er spring 18 bearing against the lever 16. y means of the finger 16, projection 17 and springs 18 and 19, the lever 6 is securely locked in position as illustrated in Fig. 1. A sleeve link 20 is slidably arranged on the handle and cheek pieces 8-8 and secured to a rotary post 21.

To operate the tongs, the lever 6 is moved toward the forward end of the large aw 1, and the linger 16 bearing against the small projection 17 will cause the lower end of the lever to move downward and bear against the spring 18 until .the lever is in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, when the spring is bearing against the under side of the lever. When in this position the nose 29 of the lever is bearing against the small jaw 11 and both jaws of the tongs are open. When in closed posi-tion as shown in Fig. 1 the spring 18 is resting against the bottom of the lever 6 and the drill stem or pipe is held firmly between the jaws. By thus manipulating the lever 6 a secure and tight grip can be obtained as considerable leverage can be exerted by bringing the handle of the lever into the position shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described the nature and objects of the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Pipe tongs comprising a relatively movable jaw provided with a recess to conformably receive a drill stem coupling or pipe, a smaller stationary jaw provided with teeth, cheek pieces on each side of the jaws, and a lever pivoted to the inner end of the larger jaw and to the cheek pieces, said movable jaw also pivoted approximately midway of its ends to the cheek pieces, means adjacent Patented J une 28,' 1921..

H also pivoted: by ,pi-n (,to the cheek pieces y828 on-eacli-side- 6, thev cheek pieces' extended rearwardly and aiiixed by 'pins` member' spanni'lngA the cheek pieces and springs below one end ofthe lever, all ar`` the lever, whereby when the lever is moved away from or toward the tongs the movable finger will' bear against the bridgeniember and the springs against the lever and operate jaw will be moved awayfrom or toward the smaller jaw, and means for locking the lever in operative position when the lever isere?.

leased.

2. Pipe tongs comprlsing a movable jaw, a stationary jaw and a leverV provided with a finger, said lever pivoted'tothe larger. jaw,r

cheek pieces to which the lever is pivoted, said movable jaw also pivoted to the cheek pieces about midway of its ends, a bridge ranged so that when the lever. is moved to ward` oraway from the cheek pieces the to move the inner end of the movable jaw outwardly or inwardly to tighten or release `the jaws on or from a pipe, said linger,

bridge` member and springs adapted'to 'lock .the lever in operative position when the lever is released. p

In testimony whereof I Vhavev signed my name-to this specification. w: Lf Y Y 

